Another record for the big fella. Nobody has ever reached a half century of Champions League goals quicker than Erling Haaland and, to be frank, it’s not even close.
Haaland’s managed it in 49 games. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s next on 62. Lionel Messi: 66. Of the assorted others, Cristiano Ronaldo took 91 and Thierry Henry 103. Raul’s in at 97. Some company he’s beating.
Phil Foden engineered the moment, delicately lifting over the Napoli defence and the Norwegian gently nodded into the far corner. The header, met on the run, looped and was considerably harder to execute than it appeared.
That combination will have pleased Pep Guardiola, agitated for much of the opening night in this competition. Agitated with the crowd and frustrated by Manchester City doing more than enough to unlock a stubborn 10-man Napoli without pressing home an advantage until later in the night.
The emotion and hand gestures aimed at fans sat in the Colin Bell stand, behind the dugouts, is something to watch for during future European nights, because these are not games taken up by regular season ticket holders.
Many will have come to catch another glimpse, likely a final glimpse, of Kevin De Bruyne, who effectively arrived under a cloak, taking a path into the Etihad he’d never trodden before. The away coach nips past the crowds and heads down a tunnel in a side entrance. These were areas of his former home that De Bruyne is unlikely to have ever seen, despite a decade here, but a familiar face was waiting for him inside regardless.
Erling Haaland scored his 50th Champions League goal as Man City won 2-0 against Napoli
Haaland produced a flicked header from Phil Foden’s chipped ball to score the opening goal
Man City revealed a montage in tribute to Haaland’s milestone goal in the competition
American broadcaster CBS had become a little worried that Napoli’s arrival was going to be too late for Micah Richards to greet De Bruyne just before the dressing room. Eventually, they decided to cut the former right back’s live segment pitchside to wait for the handshake shot they so craved. As they waited, Richards feigned fear that the Belgian would ignore him. He didn’t, the moment did possess some genuine affection.
Antonio Conte did not lead his team in until just over an hour before kick-off, a whistle prompting a perpetual state of confusion as to whether Jeremy Doku was exceptionally dangerous or ludicrously wasteful, yet Richards was rewarded for sticking it out. Doku ended up scoring a magnificent second goal 25 minutes from time, dancing past three markers. After plenty of maddening moments, he ended up being the most productive man in sky blue aside from Foden. One day he’ll put in a normal performance.
Although the traffic around Manchester had become typically congested, arriving late must have been Conte’s plan because Napoli were in the Marriott hotel next to Piccadilly station a mile away, significantly closer than the De Bruyne family home around Wilmslow.
Ruben Dias playfully barged his former captain during the fair play handshakes, Haaland smirked as they crossed paths. The whole experience must have felt more than slightly weird, heighted further when all four stands broke into a rendition of The White Stripes, De Bruyne’s terrace chant. It had only been 122 days since he and his family waved goodbye at the end of last season. He rightly looked a bit sheepish about it all.
More so than on 26 minutes, in fairness. De Bruyne’s night ended prematurely. Understandably but prematurely all the same, when Napoli’s captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo hacked Haaland down just outside the box as the Norwegian raced onto Foden’s menacing pass. Referee Felix Zwayer bizarrely waved claims away before being sent to the monitor.
Somebody had to be sacrificed with the straight red and, despite Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund having recorded only two touches, the finest midfielder in the Premier League era saw his number flash up. Conte’s decision was clearly down to legs for rare breaks upfield from the two banks of five and De Bruyne appeared understanding.
This could have been even stranger had City planned for the 34-year-old’s exit more meticulously and had the statue commissioned, ready and waiting. De Bruyne is being immortalised outside, joining Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and David Silva of recent heroes, and likely part of the North Stand expansion. Were it already completed, De Bruyne featuring would have been akin to Sir James Anderson signing for Nottinghamshire and bowling from his own end at Old Trafford over the other side of town: all kinds of wrong.
A goalkeeper from over that way, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic – formerly of United’s academy and who might still be there were it not for work permit issues – repelled everything thrown his way. And when he didn’t, Matteo Palitano thwarted a goalbound Tijjani Reijnders effort instead.
Jeremy Doku doubled Manchester City’s lead against the reigning Serie A champions
Napoli were reduced to 10-men in the first half following Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s foul on Haaland
Kevin De Bruyne’s homecoming to Man City proved brief as he was taken off after the red card
But these have been a decent few days for Guardiola after the resounding derby victory last weekend and his side did find a way.
Foden and Haaland combined wonderfully – that is a partnership City need to flourish throughout the season if they are to earn silverware – before Doku ended the best week of his career in England by confidently sliding beyond Milinkovic-Savic with the sort of authority with which we are not accustom.
Rodri had already been withdrawn by that point, given another hour on his comeback trail following an injury setback at the Club World Cup. That he started prompted surprise yet it points to how important starting this elongated group stage with victory really is for Guardiola. City played out a dull goalless draw with Inter this time last year and look what happened next.
